Reform NEEDED: Section 31 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986
cpc ap_lawcet advanced reform_ideaSection 31 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, mandates a complaint to be made within two years from the date of supply of goods that prove to be defective or from the date of breach of contract. This provision makes no sense in 2025 because a lot of consumer goods today come with a warranty period of 1-2 years, or even 5 years in some cases. By the time the warranty period is over and a complaint is made, the manufacturer is no longer liable under the Consumer Protection Act. Moreover, with rising living costs and average Indian household expenditure on consumer goods, two years is a very short time to discover and report defects. This provision hampers consumer rights and makes the Act less effective in protecting consumers.
2 Comments
Bhai, I agree Section 31 needs reform. Current provisions make it too easy for companies to wriggle out of consumer protection. However, we must also ensure that consumers don't abuse the system. Perhaps we can introduce strict timelines for dispute resolution and penalties for frivolous complaints? This way, we can strike a balance between consumer rights and corporate accountability.
Mujhe seema lag rahi hai ki log Section 31 ka reference karte hain, lekin kuch samay pehle is section ko amend kiya gaya tha. Ab isme apna case sambandhit documents submit karne ki avashyakata na hoti hai. Hukamran ki bhi yeh avshyakata ni hai. Lekin yeh bhi sach hai ki aapko apna case sambandhit sab documents submit karne honge.